Surrender Dorothy
Directed byKevin DiNovis
Written byKevin DiNovis
Produced byRichard Goldberg
StarringPeter Pryor
Kevin DiNovis
Jason Centeno
Elizabeth Casey
Marcos Muniz
CinematographyJonathan Kovel
Edited byKevin DiNovis
Music byChristopher Matarazzo
Distributed byTLA Releasing
Release date
Running time
87 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States

Surrender Dorothy is an independent film by director Kevin DiNovis which won first place at the 1998 Slamdance Film Festival.[2] The film stars Peter Pryor and Kevin DiNovis (who performed when the designated actor left the production a week before filming).[3] The film is shot in black and white.[4] It is also notable for featuring the first film role for Elizabeth Banks,[5] who appears in the credits as "Elizabeth Casey."[6]

The film was shot in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1][6]

Plot

After the heroin-addicted Lanh robs his roommate Denis, Lanh attempts to hide out at the home of Trevor, Denis's best friend. Trevor is afraid of women. He uses Lanh's drug addiction to manipulate him, eventually transforming Lanh into Trevor's idea of a perfect girlfriend.

Cast

  • Peter Pryor as Trevor
  • Kevin DiNovis as Lanh
  • Jason Centeno as Denis
  • Elizabeth Banks as Vicki
  • Marcos Muniz as Angel
  • Keri Merboth as Nadia

Reception

Critical reception for the film has been mixed. The Stranger criticized it, saying that although it "makes the most of its tiny budget" it was ultimately "inarticulate and immature".[7] Sam Adams of the Philadelphia City Paper admitted that the film was "not without its flaws" but was ultimately "a bold, ballsy and attention-getting debut".[8] Total Film panned it, giving the DVD release two stars and calling it a "yawn fest".[9] James Berardinelli gave it three and a half stars, praising DiNovis's performance.[10] In The A.V. Club, Noel Murray called it "memorable, but...also grubby, harsh, and lacking in wit".[11] Leonard Klady wrote in Variety that it was "disturbing, hard-edged tale of physical abuse and sexual aberration that pulls no punches" but that it was ultimately "decidedly for niche tastes".[4] Roger Ebert selected it for his first Overlooked Film Festival in 1999[12] in Champaign, Illinois.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 "Surrender Dorothy". TCM.com. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  2. ↑ Warner, David (January 1998). "Surrender Kevin". Philadelphia City Paper. Archived from the original on 2013-02-21 – via citypaper.net.
  3. ↑ Hornaday, Ann (May 5, 1999). "No choice but to surrender. 'Dorothy' director Kevin Di Novis was forced into the act when his star dropped out. The results speak for themselves". The Baltimore Sun. p. 1E. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Klady, Leonard (January 28, 1998). "Surrender Dorothy". Variety. Retrieved September 14, 2021. Slamdance Grand Prize winner 'Surrender Dorothy' is a disturbing, hard-edged tale of physical abuse and sexual aberration that pulls no punches. The psychologically wrenching film --- shot in black-and-white --- is decidedly for niche tastes.
  5. 1 2 Carlson, Erin (April 25, 2012). "'Hunger Games' Star Elizabeth Banks Pans 'Surrender Dorothy', Director Fires Back". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Amorosi, A. D. (June 16, 2015). "The Philly past of 'Pitch Perfect 2' and 'Hunger Games: Mockingjay' star Elizabeth Banks". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021. She made her film debut right here in Philly with 1998's Surrender Dorothy, under the stage name 'Elizabeth Casey.'
  7. ↑ Wiecking, Steve (September 30, 1999). "Inarticulate and Immature: Dorothy Needs a Spanking". The Stranger. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  8. ↑ Adams, Sam (May 7, 1998). "Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema". Philadelphia City Paper. Archived from the original on 2013-04-13 – via citypaper.net.
  9. ↑ "Surrender Dorothy". TotalFilm.com. March 1, 2004. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013.
  10. ↑ Berardinelli, James (1998). "Surrender Dorothy". reelviews.net. James Berardinelli. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  11. ↑ Murray, Noel (April 19, 2002). "Surrender Dorothy". avclub.com. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Films". ebertfest.com. Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival. Archived from the original on June 23, 2003. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
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